CVE-2014-2335 in FortiAnalyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Web User Interface in Fortinet FortiManager before 5.0.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-2336.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2335 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Fortinet FortiManager's web user interface components. This issue affects versions prior to 5.0.7 and demonstrates a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability resides within the web interface layer of FortiManager, which serves as a centralized management platform for Fortinet security appliances, making it a particularly concerning target for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise security infrastructures.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's user interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors that bypass the application's security controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web interface's handling of user-supplied data, which is then rendered back to users without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions within the context of user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the FortiManager environment. Given that FortiManager serves as a central management point for security policies and configurations across multiple Fortinet devices, successful exploitation could allow threat actors to gain unauthorized access to critical network security controls. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit it without requiring physical access to the network, potentially compromising entire security infrastructures managed through the affected FortiManager instances. This risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where FortiManager systems often contain sensitive configuration data and administrative credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2335 primarily focus on upgrading to FortiManager version 5.0.7 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a typical example of how insecure input handling can lead to significant security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under initial access and privilege escalation techniques, as it allows adversaries to establish a foothold within the security management infrastructure and potentially escalate their access to other network components. Network segmentation and application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while organizations await the deployment of official patches to ensure continued operational security.